Pro-trainer

ABSTRACT

A hand held baseball or Softball training device for assisting a batter in learning proper swing mechanics which include a light weight 1″ hallow aluminum tube having two ends, a hand grip defining sleeve with a rubber stop disposed about the first end of the tube and a rubber cap on the second end, a light weight aluminum oval sweet spot simulation component which is movable along the 1″ hallow aluminum tube so as to proved a visual indication to the batter as to the flight of the ball after contact which determines the position that the wrist are when contact is made with the ball.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/429,258 entitled “PerfectSwing” having a filing date of Jan. 3, 2011, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a training tool for baseball orsoftball. In particular, it is directed a training bat that isbeneficial for improving palm up palm down at contact and is anexcellent muscle memory tool giving instant results by the flight of theball. The tool can be adjusted quickly for one arm drills or full swingdrills. The tool is light weight therefore the player can train longerwith out getting fatigued which causes wrong muscle memory. The sweetspot can be adjusted to the bat length the player uses during games toget the correct feel. This is the only tool on the market with thisfeature. The grip is designed to keep the hands in the correct positionduring the swing.

BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART

It is important for a hitter in baseball or softball to hit the ballwith the “sweet spot” portion of the bat. Generally, the sweet spot istypically considered the center percussion of the bat or the locationthat produces the greatest batted ball speed. While the exact locationof the sweet spot depends on the characteristics of the bat, it is ingeneral approximately six inches from the end of the barrel of the bat.The sweet spot is recognized by batters as the location that producesthe least swing resistance and bat vibration, as well as the greatestpower and control, when hitting the ball. Therefore, is important forthe batter to recognize the sweet spot on the bat and have a consistentswing.

To learn to recognize the sweet spot, a player needs to continuallypractice his/her swing. Said practice creates a muscle memory which willenable the player to recreate this swing when actually batting during agame. Additionally, such practice is also necessary if a batter has aflaw in his/her swing or needs to improve his/her swing. It is importantwhen doing drills and practicing swings, the batter becomes trained inidentifying the sweet spot of the bat.

There are a variety of known training bats which aim to teach a sweetswing. Many training bats such a the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.187,033 are weighted to assist the batter with a consistant swing,however it does not have a positional sweet spot to customize for thebatter's physique. The training device under U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,346 isa tool used to train golfers to perfect an “inside-out” swing in orderto obtain maximum range. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,935, a training bat isa tool used for training ball games however the structure has anadjustable weighted training and is used as a warm up device and notused to recognize the sweet spot. The Batting Apparatus for U.S. Pat.No. 5,014,984 is an invention relating to simulate a baseball bat inorder to manipulate in-swinging to increase the batting potential. Thereis also a Baseball Batting Training Aid with U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,511that is used to control where and how hard the ball is to be hit and isbuilt to teach the batter's hands how to control speed, hand positioningand a better swing. The U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,017, Swing Master, is also atraining device which helps instruct batters in the proper method of aswing of a bat.

Additionally, there is U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,240 B2 that utilizes amoveable internal weight method to assist batters hits. This trainingdevice is geared towards assisting the batter with more successfulswings. The U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,167 B1 is a Baseball Bat Training Aidfor batters to develop proper anatomical grip of the bat which alignsone's knuckles in a manner to provide a proper grip. Lastly, U.S. Pat.No. 7,794,340 B2 is an Adjustable Length Training Bat to improvehand-eye coordination when hitting a baseball or softball.

Some of the advantages of the Pro-Trainer are the adjustable battingplate which shows the batter the sweet spot. This adjustable battingplate can be adjusted according to the batters preference, thus, makingit suitable for users of all ages and heights to practice on thisinvention. In addition, the Pro-Trainer is the only tool used for onehanded and two handed drills. The Pro Trainer is very light weight whichimproves training drills which are sometimes cut short due to fatigue.Other tools on the market are too heavy which causes fatigue and wrongmuscle memory.

The Pro-Trainer has neoprene or grip tape which no others use. The tapehelps the batter grip their hands when training with the tool.Additionally, the Pro-Trainer is the only angled training tool. Theangle of the shaft helps train the batter to keep their hands in frontof the ball. Other tools are typically tubular or bat shaped with noangles.

Lastly, the Pro-Trainer is the only tool with an angle bracket on thehandle. This angle bracket on the handle is critical in training properbatter hand placement. Other tools are tubular like a bat with nothingto correct hands if they are in the wrong position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described is related generally to batting trainingdevices. More specifically, the invention is a softball/baseball swingtraining device that allows both one hand and two hand drills. Thedevice is a bar that includes a handle at one end thereof and a sliding“sweet spot” on it's distal end. Between the handle and the sweet spotare two bends in the bar, one bend of 15 degree is adjacent the handleand a second bend of 33 degree is located between the first bend and thesweet spot. The handle includes a ridge to assist in proper gripping ofthe handle. The sweet spot includes a sliding mechanism with locking pinto maintain the sweet spot in the selected location along the length ofthe bar. In this manner, the training device can simulate differentlength bats and their corresponding sweet spots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Illustrates a front view of the pro trainer according to thisinvention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front and back view of the shaft according to thisinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the batting plate assembly accordingto this invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front and side view of the soft rubber end capaccording to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration of specific embodiments utilizing the slidingmechanism and grip in which the invention may be practiced. Becausecomponents of embodiments of the present invention can be positioned ina number of different orientations, the direction terminology is usedfor purposes of illustration is in no way limiting. It is to beunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural orlogical changes may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is notto be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present inventionis defined by the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4thereof, a new ball hitting training device embodying the principles andconcepts of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view and all components of the pro trainerdevice which is the base shaft 1 that is 32 inches in length, which is acurved round tube that is one bend of 15 degree is adjacent the handle 5and a second bend of 33 degree. Welded to the shaft 1 is a angle bracket7 which aides the batter in correct hand placement. The angle bracket 7is approximately 9.0 inches in length and is covered with a neoprene orgrip tape 5, which helps the batter grip the tool when used. The anglebracket trains the batter in proper hand placement when batting. At theend of the pro trainer device is a tubular end cap 9 which is covered bya soft rubber cap 6. At the top of the base shaft is a 1.375 inchplastic cap 3. A front view of the adjustable batting plate illustratingthe batting plate 2 and the ⅜ inch long thumbscrew 4. The thumbscrew 4can be loosened and tightened moving the batting plate up and down theshaft, according to the batters preference, thus, making it suitable forusers of all ages and heights to practice on this invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front, back and side view with the criticaldimensions of the shaft 1 which is 32 inches in length which is a curvedround tube that is one bend of 15 degree is adjacent the handle 5 and asecond bend of 33 degree. The illustration also shows the angle bracket7 which is 9 inches long and is welded to the shaft. The angle bracket 7on the handle is cut at an angle 13 and welded closed. There is a 9.375inches cut out 10 on the back of the shaft 1 where the batting plateassembly is attached and can be adjusted according to the batterspreference, thus, making it suitable for users of all ages and heightsto practice on this invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front, back, side, top view and the criticaldimensions of the adjustable batting plate assembly. This consists of around metal plate 2, which is 6 inches long and 2 inches tall. There isa 1 inch round tube 12 which is welded 11 to the back of the metal plate2. The tube 12 has a ⅜ hole 8 for the 1.25 long thumbscrew 4 which isinserted and can be adjusted by tightening and loosening to the battingplate. This batting plate assembly is easily adjusted on the shaftaccording to the batters preference, thus, making it suitable for usersof all ages and heights to practice on this invention. The batting plateis critical in training for proper ball contact and hitting the sweetspot when batting.

FIG. 4 illustrates a front and side view of the rubber end cap 6. It issoft rubber and fits 1.375 inches long snug over the shaft and end capwith dimensions of 1.375 inches expanding to 2.2 inches round at theend.

The end cap 6 is formed to fit over the enlarged end so the hitting toolwill not come loose from the batters hands when the user is using theball hitting training device.

1. A baseball or softball hitting training device compromising of: Ahollow aluminum core extending threw the shaft from the first end to thesecond end; and wherein a rubber cap at the first end of said device;and a rubber stop device which is on the second end; and the adjustablebatting plate assembly held on by a 1″ round clamp which is welded tothe back of the adjustable sweet spot plate; and the handle comprises ofan angle bracket on the handle of the training device wherein the handleis covered by a neoprene grip.
 2. The baseball or softball hittingtraining device of claim 1, consists of a built in angle on the handleportion helping the knuckles stay in the correct palm up, palm down handposition at ball contact.
 3. The baseball or softball hitting trainingdevice of claim 1, has a neoprene grip to keep the hands secure on thehandle.
 4. The baseball or softball hitting training device of claim 1,has an adjustable batting plate that locks into sweet spot positions inorder to accommodate any bat length the player uses.
 5. The baseball orsoftball hitting training device of claim 1, has a rubber stop at theend of the device that helps prevent the bat slipping out of thatbatter's hands.